Our History

The merger in 2010 of the Southampton firm of Ewing Hickman & Clark and Footners of Romsey to form Footner & Ewing combines a total existence of almost 300 years.

Ewing Hickman & Clark

James Archibald Ewing founded the firm in July 1900 and was joined by Humphrey Cressey Hickman in 1925. The name was established just after the second world war, when Harvey Clark became a partner. The Totton office was opened in the late 1950s and between the two offices a busy General Practice specialising particularly in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing, Company work, Probate, Family Law and Legal Aid work was formed.

In 2002, the long-established and respected Woolston firm of Ronald H. Cross & Fiddes was acquired.

In the year 2000 the firm was awarded a Franchise by the Legal Services Commission, and it currently holds contracts to carry out Legal Aid in Family matters, Criminal defence and Family Mediation. Legal Aid work will continue to be provided from the Southampton and Totton offices. Family Mediation, both private and publicly funded is available in both the Southampton and Totton offices.

Footners

Footners was founded in Romsey in 1823 and has practiced continuously in the town since then. Members of the founder’s family were Partners until 1974. It has over the years expanded via acquisition and merger, most recently having, in 2007, merged with the firm of Carruthers & Co. Like Ewings it has busy Probate and Conveyancing Departments as well as a Family Law Department. Footners’ corporate team provide a bespoke range of services for businesses, including commercial property matters, mergers and acquisitions, employment issues and landlord and tenant.

FOOTNER & EWING

It has long been known by the Partners of both firms that they have shared a common ethos and culture, particularly in the fields of both client and staff care. In addition the similarity in the business profile of the two firms will lead to efficiencies which will benefit its combined client base. The firm now consists of 5 Partners and a further 17 fee earners.Total staff complement is of the order of 65. The firm has attained Lexcel Accreditation and membership of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

A list of members is available for inspection at the registered office: 19 Brunswick Place Southampton SO15 2SZ. We use the word ‘Partner’ to refer to a member of the LLP. Registered in England and Wales number OC416100.